Gender appropriate and inappropriate behaviors - Essay Example

? Gender Appropriate and Inappropriate Behaviors al Affiliation This document contains a discussion of the arising questions from a common scenario where children choose to engage in activities traditionally reserved for the opposite sex, which is a frustrating issue to the parents. Contrary to many expectations, a good number of children develop interest in opposite sex roles and characters that persist over time. It does not however define a child’s sexual orientation in the early stage because intricate cycles of psychological factors and experience that would support the theory may not exist, but chances of paraphilia developments, especially the Fetishism and Transvestic Fetishism cannot be nullified either. When the behavior persists, it could develop into an issue that defines the core self, which in few occurrences, cannot be changed through parenting care and medical professional interventions. This document discusses its psychological consequences and the recommended interventions to rectify the behavior, where possible. Keywords: Paraphilia, Gender Identity, Non Conformity, Appropriate and Inappropriate Behavior, Psychological Effect, Gender Role, Society, Development Phase, Confusion, Social Interactions, Sexual Orientation, Professionals, Caregivers, Fetishism and Transvestic Fetishism Introduction The society has constructed various meanings and behaviors associated with specific genders, which the youngsters at their respective genders are expected to conform to. A girl child is born and associated with bright colors than the boys would. It is viewed normal for girls to play with dolls and flowers and play the role of mothers in their games, while boys can play with toy machineries and act like fathers and assume to handle difficult tasks in the games. As the kids develop, they become aware of their physical differences after which they tend to learn their respective gender role behaviors. However, it becomes a concern for some parents when the child interests and behavior deviates from the accepted norm and display gender role confusion. More so, when the male child begins to gradually adopt the feminine characters and vice versa. Many factors could be contributing to such issues, but the social interaction determines a lot to shape their behaviors and interests, least to mention the biological changes within their bodies. There may be serious effects if the issue is left unchecked, and considering the child needs freedom to play around, the care giver needs to closely monitor his or her attitudes and activities. Thesis: Non conformity to the gender roles or the traditionally preserved activities for a specific sex influences children’s psychological and physical behaviors as they grow. It causes different psychological effects that could require various interventions by parents and professionals to assist the children. Is the Behavior indicative of Homosexuality? Just because a child fails to behave consistently with their biological sex does not indicate their probable sexual orientation later in life. Children will interact with many people and tend to imitate their lifestyles. In such a manner, their interests are influenced and their social setting may make them to behave otherwise. A girl child raised together with numerous boys will play around with them and probably show interest on the similar toys they have. However, their nonconformity may end at a later age or remain stable over time. For most children, it is a just a phase in development, where the child expresses diversity in interests, but tends to grow out of it (Gender Spectrum, 2013). Argument to indication of sexual orientation is not true, because, complex sequences of psychological factors and experience may not exist to accelerate homosexuality in adulthood. Chances of leading transgender later due to child confusion over their gender could exist, but that would also occur after firm assertion of nonconformity over time. Negative and Positive Psychological Consequences Gender identity disorder: Every individual is defined by his or her anatomic sex at birth. When children begin and persistently behave and portray characters of their desired gender that conflict with their sexuality at birth, they may end up developing gender identity problems. They often feel uncomfortable with their anatomic sex because it does not reflect their adopted behavior. As the denial of their sexuality persists, they may seek gender reassignment surgery to fit the description of their desired gender role. Confusion: When the child develops acceptance of the traditionally reserved gender role of the opposite sex, and the care givers subject them to behaviors that are appropriate to their defined gender at birth, the child may try to internalize both over time and as a result, they are left in a state of confusion not knowing which gender role to assume. They are unable to handle their problems at hand because of the confusion at the thought of the society’s judgment. Low self esteem: This is ignited by the society and peer reactions over the inappropriate gender role. Boys and girls who identify with the opposite sex behaviors or traits are ridiculed, teased and even ascribed negative meanings that subject them to shame (“Gender Identity,” 2013). They may suffer intensively in the loss of their self confidence and could isolate themselves due to failure of acceptance or not knowing how to react in their social interaction. Positive thinking for career growth: When the parents and professionals help fail to alter the nonconformity behavior, the best alternative is to support the children in their new strengths and desires. Most positive effects occur to girls that conform to male gender role; for example, where the girl exercises various sports with the boys, caregivers can reward rather than punish them, so that they develop new talents and strengths that exhibit early in life. In other words, it stimulates the child to achieve new strengths and abilities e.g. athletics, catering or unimaginable wonders that are socially and economically supportive. In such cases, it can improve the child’s morale to thrive and excel in activities often associated with the opposite gender. An argument for supporting concern for exhibiting Paraphilia It is of great concern that exceptional cases may occur where non conformance to the appropriate behavior assigned to a specific gender exists. The persistence of the traditionally reserved gender roles of the opposite sex may not be a phase in child development, but imply developing sexual disorder. Their adopted opposite gender role may hold, but what cannot change may generate into fantasies. Since the children desires and interests highly depend on the social surrounding, what they perceive is what they internalize. If a girl is treated better, then a boy could find a reason to look similar, and if a boy receives certain advantages because of their masculine associated roles, a girl would seek ways to experience the same. Therefore, their social experiences may solidify or disrupt the link between them and the expected appropriate behavior, which could lead them to initiating certain paraphilias unknowingly (Campbell, 2009). These paraphilic fantasies advance with adolescence, where the developing teenagers can selectively try to keep closer to their preferred stimulus. Paraphilias that might apply and their criteria Fetishism and Transvestic fetishism are the best possible paraphilias, though researches admit that when one type is established, two or three more could be possessed by the same individuals. The DSM-IV –TR diagnostic framework defines Fetishism through following criteria: close attachments to non living objects fetish enough to cause a sexual interest (say boys interested in girls inner wears, shoes and bras), and cross dressing for transvestic fetishism to cause a sexual arousal when they imagine other men being attracted to them as women or vice versa (Hersen &Sturmey, 2012). Recommended Interventions In most cases, where non conformity and confusion is portrayed, parents can easily engage in friendly talks with their children to enable them distinguish the female and male behaviors. Parents can teach them the appropriate behaviors with respect to their gender and make them understand why they receive certain reactions from their peers. By doing so, children boost their self esteem and may assist to influence the sense of who they believe to be (Gender Spectrum, 2013). On the other hand, it may be necessary to seek professional medical intervention when the nonconformity persists, in order to rectify the situation. Child psychologists and pediatricians would aid in rectifying transgender issues or gender identity disorders that may arise from kids engaging in activities traditionally reserved for the opposite sex (Sue, 2009). Mental health professionals can identify the reason and tune the child’s thought into normalcy, often through therapies and supportive care from the parents and receptive environment. Conclusion Failure to conform to one’s preserved gender activities as associated with sexuality at birth is always a disturbing issue for parents. However, it may be just a phase in a child’s development or could portray other meanings. It leads to confusion, gender identity disorders, influences children’s thoughts, and may lead to development of sexual disorders (paraphilias) that exhibit at an early stage of the child development and advance in adolescence. It is therefore necessary to seek professional medical intervention when nonconformity to gender persists, in order to rectify the situation. Reference List Campbell, R. J. (2009). Campbell's Psychiatric Dictionary, 9th Ed. New York: Oxford University Press. Gender Identity and Gender Confusion in Children.  (2013, May 11). Retrieved September 20, 2013, from http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/pages/Gender-Identity-and-Gender-Confusion-In-Children.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token&nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token Gender Spectrum. (2013). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved September 20, 2013, from https://www.genderspectrum.org/about/faq  Hersen, M. & Sturmey, P. (Eds,). (2012). Handbook of Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Psychology, Adult Disorders. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Sue, D. & Sue D. M. (2011). Understanding Abnormal Behavior, 10th ed. Belmont: Cengage Learning. Read More